This fall I’ll teach a class on Bible doctrines at our church in Fort Worth. So, I’ve been studying doctrine and preparing PowerPoint slides. I’m 76 years old, and I’ve only heard one sermon on the doctrine of adoption, and I preached that. Now, don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying no one else has preached on adoption, I’m just saying in my experience I’ve not heard a sermon on adoption. That’s a shame, I believe. Adoption is a precious doctrine that bears preaching and teaching and learning. The doctrine means a lot to me because our two children are adopted. So, here’s my sermon on adoption. I hope you’ll comment with a few amens, and I hope you’ll pray and thank God for making you His own dear child.
I. God’s Plan for Our Adoption
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Eph 1:4-5, ESV))
A. God planned to redeem the world before He created the universe.
B. God planned to make us His children before He created the world.
II. God’s Provision for Our Adoption
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Gal 4:4-5, ESV)
A. Jesus came into the world to save us and make us God’s children
B. Jesus’ coming to earth was planned by God.
C. God prepared the world for the birth of Christ.
- The “Pax Romana,” the peace provided by the Roman Empire made missionary travel possible.
- Good Roman roads made travel easier.
- The common use of the Greek language facilitated communicating the gospel.
- The spread of Jewish synagogues provided teaching from the Old Testament throughout the Roman Empire.
III. God’s Procedure for Our Adoption
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12, ESV)
A. God convicts us of our sin.
B. God calls us to salvation by believing on His name.
C. God changes us, making us new creatures in Christ. (2 Cor 5:17)
IV. Our Privileges as God’s Adopted Children
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Gal 4:5-7, ESV)
A. We receive the Holy Spirit.
B. We have an intimate relationship with God, calling Him “Abba.”
C. We become fellow heirs of the Kingdom of God with Jesus.
D. We become part of God’s forever family.
E. We were once slaves, but now we are God’s children.
Hymn—“A Child of the King”
I once was an outcast, stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown.
I’m a child of the King, a child of the King;
With Jesus my Savior, I’m a child of the King.
(Harriet E. Buell)
Teacher Debbie Moon’s first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had hair a different color from the other family members. One child suggested that he was adopted. A little girl said, “I know about adoption because I was adopted.” “What does it mean to be adopted?” asked another child. “It means,” said the girl, “that you grew in your mommy’s heart instead of her tummy.”
Oh, friends! We grew in God’s heart.
